Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-15
Allan Qlaternail
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD.
AUTHOR OF KING soLonoSs MINES" "sHE,
"JEss,'' THE wITcH's HEAD" ETC

against the long triple ridges OF spear points,
only to he rolled back as pillows are when
they meet the cliff
And so for four long hours the battle ragged
almost without a pause, and at the end OF
that time, if we had gained nothing we had
lost nothing. Two attempts to turn our left
flank, by forcing way through the wood by
which it was protected, had been defeated
and as yet Nasta's swordsrnen had, notwith
standing their desperate efforts. entirely
failed to break Goods three squares, though
they had thinned their numbers by quite a
Third
As for the chest of the army, where Sir
Henry was with his staff and Umslopogaas, it
had suffered dreadfully, but it had held its
own with honor, and the same may be said
OF our left battle.
At last the attacks slackened and Sorais'
army drew back, having, I began to think,
had enough of it. On this point, however, l
was soon undeceived, for, splitting up her
cavalry into comparatively small squadrons,
she charged us furiously with them all along
the line and then once more rolled her tens of
thousands of sword and spear men down
upon our weakened squares and squadrons-
Sorais herself directing the movement and,
fearless as lioaess, heading the main attack.
On they came like an avalanche saw her
golden helm cleaning in the varl-our coun-
ter charges of cavalry entirely failing to
check their forward sweep. Now they had
struck us, and our center bent In like a bow
beneath the weight Of their rush-it parted,
and had not tho 10, 600 men in reserve charged
down to its support 1t must have been do
stroyed. AS for Goods three squares, they
were swept backward like boats upon an in
coming tide and the foremost one was burst
into and lost half its remaining men But
the effort was too fierce and terrible to last.
Suddenly the battle came, as it were, to
turning point and for minute or two stood
still
Then it began to move toward Sorais'
camp. Just then. too, Nastas fierce and al
most invincible highlanders, either because
they were disheartened by their losses or by
way of a ruse, fell back and the remains of
Goods gallant squares, leaving the positions
they had held for so many hours, cheered
wildly and rashly followed them down the
slope, wherein the swarms Of swordsmen
turned to envelop them and once more flung
themselves upon them with a yell. Taken
thus on every side, what remained of the first
square was quickly destroyed, and perceived
that the second, in which l could see Good
himself on large horse, was ON the point of
humiliation A few minutes more and it
was broken, its streaming colors sank, and
lost sight of Good in the confused and hide
Gus slaughter that ensued.
Presently, however, a cream colored horse
with q snow white mane and tail burst from
the ruins of the square and came rushing
past me riderless and with wide streaming
reins, and in it recognized the charger that
L LA,.A al
longer, but taking with me half my effective
cavalry force, which now amounted to be-
tween 4, 900 and 5000 men, commended my
self to God, and without waiting for orders,
charged straight down upon Nasta's swords
men. Seeing me coming and being warned
by the thunder of my horses hoofs, the ma.
jority of them faced round and gave US a
right warm welcome Not an inch would
they yield; in vain did we hack and trample
them down as we plowed broad red furrow
through their thousands; they seemed to re-
arise by hundreds, driving their terrible
sharp swords into our horses or severing
their hamstrings and then hacking the
troopers who came to the ground with
them almost into pieces. My horse
was speedily killed under me, but luckily I
had fresh one, my own favorite, a coal black
mare Nyleptha had given me being held in
reserve behind, and on this | afterward
mounted. Meanwhile had to get along as
best could, for l was pretty well lost sight
of by my men in the mad confusion of the
moment My voice, of course, could not be
heard in the midst of the changing of steel
and the shrieks of rage and agony. Pres
emily found myself mixed up with the rem
nants of the square, which had formed round
its leader, Good, and was fighting desper-
ately for existence. / stumbled against some
body, and, glancing down, caught sight of
Goods eyeglass He had been beaten to his
knee Over him was great fellow, swing
ing a heavy sword. Somehow l managed to
run the man through with the SINE | had
taken from the Nasal whose hand / had cut
off; but as l did so he dealt me frightful
blow in the left side and breast with the
sword, and, though my chain shirt saved my
life, felt that was badly hurt For min
ute l fell on to my hands and knees among
the dead and dying, and turned sick and
faint. When | came to again l saw that
Nasta's spearmen, or rather those OF them
that remained, were retreating back across
the stream. and that Good was there by me
smiling beamingly.
"Near go that" he shouted, "but alls well
that ends we'll"
assented, but could not help feeling that
it had not ended we'll for me. l was sorely
hurt
Just then we saw the smaller bodies of cav
airy stationed on our extreme right and left,
and which were now re-enforced by the 5000
sabers which we had held in reserve. flash
out like arrows from their posts and fall
upon the disordered TANKS of Sorais' forces,
and that charge decided the issue of the battle.
In another minute or two the enemy was in
slow and sullen retreat across the little stream,
where they once more reformed. Then came
another lull, during which l managed to get
my second horse and received my orders to
advance from Sir Henry, and then, with one
fierce, deep throated roar, with waving OF
banners and a wide flashing Of steel, the re-
mains of our army took the offensive and
began to sweep down, slowly indeed, but ir-
resistibly, from the positions they had so gal
1optIu hold. oil dav